Why are Black folks hating on Tavis Smiley?

[JagHammer]

In actuality what they are doing by their actions is to put our President in harms way by their statements. Cornel said Obama was a baby killer by conducting over 200 drone attacks in the middle-east. Everyone is aware of the fact that Al Qaeda need to be eliminated. Those who harbor or hide terrorist already know what the consequences will be.

And there you have it folks.

 

[JROCK]

I actually cringed while listening to Tavis speak Sunday on Meet The Press. At one time I enjoyed listening to his commentary (pre-2008). Now, I look at Tavis and Cornell as being overzealous handkerchief heads. Perhaps somewhere down the road in the distance future, I can get back into the two. However, right now, I don't like those two very much.

 

[SAME OLD G]

I actually cringed while listening to Tavis speak Sunday on Meet The Press. At one time I enjoyed listening to his commentary (pre-2008). Now, I look at Tavis and Cornell as being overzealous handkerchief heads. Perhaps somewhere down the road in the distance future, I can get back into the two. However, right now, I don't like those two very much.

:tup: Co-sign

 

[chocalate_topaz]

these two are like folks on a train track seeing the train coming but refusing to get off the tracks because the track isn't supposed to be here in their opinion.

Do you really believe West or Smiley can recover from these actions? Whether by the black community or economically? I know Tavis has been shown the business...

 

[FAMU CLIFF]

In actuality what they are doing by their actions is to put our President in harms way by their statements. Cornel said Obama was a baby killer by conducting over 200 drone attacks in the middle-east. Everyone is aware of the fact that Al Qaeda need to be eliminated. Those who harbor or hide terrorist already know what the consequences will be.

It is obvious by these statements you have no idea why we are there and what we are really doing. The president of the country is the brother of the biggest opium producer in the country. Some of yall need to wake up.


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/w...m-production-increases-for-3rd-year.html?_r=0

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/...-Treasures-Stay-Buried-Hostage-To-Uncertainty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_Oil_Pipeline

 

[FAMU CLIFF]

What does that mean? Mainstream Black intellectual? To me it means he's been talking shit for twenty years and hasn't gotten anything accomplished because he's on the outside looking in. He and Tavis thought they would finally have a chance to be relevant when Barack Obama was elected and are mad because it hasn't happened. They are still on the outside looking in and still are not getting anything accomplished other than being bitter and attacking Barack Obama.

I tuned Tavis Smiley and Cornel West out during Barack's first campaign when Tavis came up with a list of "demands" that he had for Barack Obama. I knew they were out of touch with reality then and had no clue how to really influence and shape political policy. Tavis Smiley and Cornel West have never been in a position to demand anything from any sitting President. Barack Obama ignored these arrogant and pompous fools and they have been mad ever since.

Being a "mainstream Black intellectual" is meaningless if you're not smart enough to get access. If you're not smart enough to know that making "demands" on the man and constantly attacking him are not the keys to the kingdom. Not only do you not get access, but you also alienate the very people you claim to be fighting for. Because your efforts are not just unproductive, they are counterproductive as well. Then you find yourself sitting even more outside because now you don't have the support of the people either.

You would think an "intellectual" would be able to figure that out. These guys are not intellectuals though. They are shit-talking pompous asses who haven't gotten anything accomplished. If that's all that's required to be a "Black intellectual", then I'm a Black intellectual too. :lol:

All of us are on the outside looking in and should be pissed. LBGT and hispanics are getting their payoffs. Where are ours? The reason why groups vote in blocks is to get stuff. Where is our stuff?

 

[SUJagFan]

these two are like folks on a train track seeing the train coming but refusing to get off the tracks because the track isn't supposed to be here in their opinion.

Do you really believe West or Smiley can recover from these actions? Whether by the black community or economically? I know Tavis has been shown the business...

No, they won't recover from this because Black people now see through their act.

The truth is that Tavis Smiley and Cornel West have never been about the Black community. It's all been about them - their image, their popularity and their want for power. If they were really concerned about Black people, they would find another means to get their agenda across. They would meet with Congress. Meet with the President's advisors. Meet with the President in private. Do whatever it takes to get the message across in order to get something ... anything ... actually done.

They haven't done that though. What they've done is act like some junior high school girls and went to sit in the corner, pout and talk bad about the President when the President didn't let them into his clique. People see straight through that. Black Americans now realize that Tavis and Cornell are about Tavis and Cornel and not about Black people. That's why Black people don't want to hear anything they have to say.

Plenty of people have been critical of Barack Obama. Black pastors over the gay marriage issue, for example. People are just sick of Tavis and Cornel crying because their feelings are hurt and that's the bottom line.

 

[SUJagFan]

All of us are on the outside looking in and should be pissed. LBGT and hispanics are getting their payoffs. Where are ours? The reason why groups vote in blocks is to get stuff. Where is our stuff?

Is that really all you all want? To be paid off? Because that's what Tavis' list of "demands" basically boiled down to. Open up the coffers of the United States and pay off Black people. Which doesn't address many of the real issues that face Black people.

I don't buy that gays and Hispanics are being paid off either.

 

[SAME OLD G]

these two are like folks on a train track seeing the train coming but refusing to get off the tracks because the track isn't supposed to be here in their opinion.

Do you really believe West or Smiley can recover from these actions? Whether by the black community or economically? I know Tavis has been shown the business...

Depending what they say/do over time...yes. West and Smiley are no dummies. And at one time the majority of folks in the AA community respected their views. If they can change the narrative a bit, they will be OK (IMO). I think people WANT to like them, but it hard to do so right now.

 

[FAMU CLIFF]

Is that really all you all want? To be paid off? Because that's what Tavis' list of "demands" basically boiled down to. Open up the coffers of the United States and pay off Black people. Which doesn't address many of the real issues that face Black people.

I don't buy that gays and Hispanics are being paid off either.

Yeah, I want stuff like Supreme Court justices, preferable legislation, the needs of my community addressed. That is the reason I vote. To have people in office who will represent my interests. And yes, right before the last election, no one knowledgeable, including the mainstream pundits dispute certain groups were addressed to assure they turned out at the polls. And Black folks were taken for granted.

 

[FAMU CLIFF]

Depending what they say/do over time...yes. West and Smiley are no dummies. And at one time the majority of folks in the AA community respected their views. If they can change the narrative a bit, they will be OK (IMO). I think people WANT to like them, but it hard to do so right now.

They will be right back when the next president who doesnt have a wife who looks like them is kicking them in the butt.

 

[Tony]

I just don't like someone saying;

The holistic conundrum we find ourselves engaging in, not dissimilar to the Greco Roman style of confliction, is discrimination of a prejudicial phenotype.

When all they could have said was

We are dealing with racism.

 

[SUJagFan]

I just don't like someone saying;

The holistic conundrum we find ourselves engaging in, not dissimilar to the Greco Roman style of confliction, is discrimination of a prejudicial phenotype.

When all they could have said was

We are dealing with racism.

:lol:

That's what I mean. Pompous asses. All about themselves.

 

[chocalate_topaz]

I just don't like someone saying;

The holistic conundrum we find ourselves engaging in, not dissimilar to the Greco Roman style of confliction, is discrimination of a prejudicial phenotype.

When all they could have said was

We are dealing with racism.

Exactly...they "fronting" like they down for the common man...but then addresses him like an elitist...

 

[CEE DOG]

Well pops in all honesty, blacks who follow Clarence Thomas, allen West, Allen Keyes, Micheal Steele types do have identity issues. Those brothers sold their souls and so many like them have too.

It suffers from both Cee. I think that is a symptom of a larger pattern of group think. I have a classmate who decided to basically become an urban model and I see so many sisters just talk about her like a dog. Its her life, if that is the dream she wants to pursue, I support her. Go for it. I have friends who are registered republicans and some blacks consider them sell-outs just for being in the GOP. We attack each other viciously for daring to be different.

 

[Anonymous]

In Cliff's defense. Cornell West has been a mainstream black intellectual since the early 90's. He wrote Race Matters back in 1994. He did go after Bush like a dog. I also do feel that black people are overly sensitive to anyone who doesn't kiss the ring when it comes to Obama but that is a symptom on a bigger problem. The black community in general suffers from a bad case of group think and anyone who dare steps outside of that groupthink circle is dubbed a sell out.

GREAT post!!

 

[The Founder]

No Pops, the black community suffers from tear a black down syndrome. It happens in the work place, family, marriage and anything where we percieve one is doing better then us. House slave vs field slave. Educated vs uneducated. Pwc vs hbcu. Hood vs suburbs.

Thanks for dumbing it down for the masses Cee. It boils down to the envy that blacks have for each other. In our culture many of us do not understand how to agree to disagree for the common goal. I thinks Bro. Smiley (NUPE) and Dr. West are upset for not receiving some type of appointment or recognition since President Obama came to office.

I for one was proud of President Obama's comments about Trayvon and Mr. Holder made some very good comments about what has become a tradition in the black family to educate young black males on being black in America. The comments were politically correct and the message was received. Yet, for Tavis and Dr. West that was not enough, I think they wanted President Obama and Mr. Holder to use more "gully" language and stronger emotions. Yet, both men "Pres. Obama & Holder) noted how they have been racially profiled sending a phenomenal message to black youth that no matter who you are you are still black. I asked my future step son who is 10 did he understand and his comments were "Yes, I can't do what white folks do."

It will never be enough for them Tavis and Dr. West. Even when President Obama leaves office their complaint would be he is not doing enough for black America post-presidency.

 

[JayRob]

In Cliff's defense. Cornell West has been a mainstream black intellectual since the early 90's. He wrote Race Matters back in 1994. He did go after Bush like a dog. I also do feel that black people are overly sensitive to anyone who doesn't kiss the ring when it comes to Obama but that is a symptom on a bigger problem. The black community in general suffers from a bad case of group think and anyone who dare steps outside of that groupthink circle is dubbed a sell out.

Correct.

 

[JayRob]

What does that mean? Mainstream Black intellectual? To me it means he's been talking shit for twenty years and hasn't gotten anything accomplished because he's on the outside looking in. He and Tavis thought they would finally have a chance to be relevant when Barack Obama was elected and are mad because it hasn't happened. They are still on the outside looking in and still are not getting anything accomplished other than being bitter and attacking Barack Obama.

I tuned Tavis Smiley and Cornel West out during Barack's first campaign when Tavis came up with a list of "demands" that he had for Barack Obama. I knew they were out of touch with reality then and had no clue how to really influence and shape political policy. Tavis Smiley and Cornel West have never been in a position to demand anything from any sitting President. Barack Obama ignored these arrogant and pompous fools and they have been mad ever since.

Being a "mainstream Black intellectual" is meaningless if you're not smart enough to get access. If you're not smart enough to know that making "demands" on the man and constantly attacking him are not the keys to the kingdom. Not only do you not get access, but you also alienate the very people you claim to be fighting for. Because your efforts are not just unproductive, they are counterproductive as well. Then you find yourself sitting even more outside because now you don't have the support of the people either.

You would think an "intellectual" would be able to figure that out. These guys are not intellectuals though. They are shit-talking pompous asses who haven't gotten anything accomplished. If that's all that's required to be a "Black intellectual", then I'm a Black intellectual too. :lol:

West and Smiley have been on the scene long before Obama became known.
West graduated from Harvard magna cum laude.
For decades he's spoken out regarding the plight of Black Americans and the constant racism Blacks face in this country.
Both West and Smiley have been fighting the fight for the middle and underclass for decades.
For you to label them as fools and shit talking pompous asses is the height of ignorance and speaks volumes about your posts.

Like someone said earlier, I applaud the men for not kissing the ring, but telling it like it is. At least they're not talking behind Obama's back. Some folks would rather they do this than tell him how they're disappointed in his treatment of Black folks.

 

[JayRob]

In actuality what they are doing by their actions is to put our President in harms way by their statements. Cornel said Obama was a baby killer by conducting over 200 drone attacks in the middle-east. Everyone is aware of the fact that Al Qaeda need to be eliminated. Those who harbor or hide terrorist already know what the consequences will be.

Uhh Hornetswarm, the biggest gang of terrorists is our own U.S. of A.
We we invade other nations under the guise of Al-queda (which is funded by the U.S.), we put ourselves in harms way.
Statements made by West and Smiley have nothing to do with putting the President in harms way. They don't have that much power. LOL.

What did Saddam do to the U.S. that warranted our troops invading and killing over three million innocent Iraqis?
I'll tell you one reason why Iraq was invaded. It was not only for oil, but it was for strategic purposes in order to set up invasions toward other nations like Syria in order to gain control of the mineral wealth in that area.

When the U.S. invade other nations on behalf of international corporations, our government is putting our troops in harms way.

Our troops aren't fighting for the liberty of this nation, they're fighting for international corporations, owned and operated by the Bush's, the Cheney's, the Rockefellers and others.
Our troops are being used like mere chattel and are at the command and beckoning of international corporations.

 

[JagHammer]

Yeah, I want stuff like Supreme Court justices, preferable legislation, the needs of my community addressed. That is the reason I vote. To have people in office who will represent my interests. And yes, right before the last election, no one knowledgeable, including the mainstream pundits dispute certain groups were addressed to assure they turned out at the polls. And Black folks were taken for granted.

You can not change the hearts and minds of people. We got to look within, cull the bad aspects of our culture, and get serious about ourselves before we expect anyone else to take us seriously.

 

[SAME OLD G]

Well pops in all honesty, blacks who follow Clarence Thomas, allen West, Allen Keyes, Micheal Steele types do have identity issues. Those brothers sold their souls and so many like them have too.

Micheal Steele (IMO) doesn't come anywhere close to being on the level of the others you mentioned.

 

[JagHammer]

Micheal Steele (IMO) doesn't come anywhere close to being on the level of the others you mentioned.

Steele's ok. The two Allens, those two are lost.

 

[JayRob]

You can not change the hearts and minds of people. We got to look within, cull the bad aspects of our culture, and get serious about ourselves before we expect anyone else to take us seriously.

This will take the overhaul of an entire generation that's already way behind other cultures and falling even further behind and don't seem to care.

 

[unknown]

In Cliff's defense. Cornell West has been a mainstream black intellectual since the early 90's. He wrote Race Matters back in 1994. He did go after Bush like a dog. I also do feel that black people are overly sensitive to anyone who doesn't kiss the ring when it comes to Obama but that is a symptom on a bigger problem. The black community in general suffers from a bad case of group think and anyone who dare steps outside of that groupthink circle is dubbed a sell out.

Definitely true. The ironic part is now black folk are starting to second guess Obama but initially if you said anything other than he's the second coming of Christ then you were a sellout. It's like all the folks that get so up in arms when incidents like the Trayvon Martin come up but 5,000 blacks could be killed by other blacks in their own city and they don't say a word. No marching, no protesting...no snitching.